Baling-press.



PATENTED APR. 28,1903.

110.726,694., M; B. JONES.

BALING PRESS.

UNITED STATE-s i PATENT FFICE.

' BALlNe-PRi-:ss

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 726,694, dated April28, 1903. i

' Application iiledSeptember 27, 1900. Serial No. 31,281. (No model.)

To all whom, it muy concern:

Be it known that I, MILTON BRANARD JONES, acitizen of the United States,residing at Meridian, in the county of Lauderdale and State ofMississippi, have'invented a new and useful BalingPress,`of which thefollowing is a specification. l

This invention relates to balingpresses,` and has special reference tothat type of plu nger-presses adapted for the baling of hay, straw, andother material.

The main object of the invention is to ef-: t

fect certain improvements' in that type ofj plunger baling-pressescommonly known as the rebounding plunger-press, involving? theemployment of a plunger which has a powerful forward movement limpartedthereto and which may easily rebound or return to its normal position.

To this end the invention contemplates a novel construction of powermechanism embodying simple and positive'means for thrust-' ing theplunger forward with apowerful force and to increase the power thereofin proportion to the increase in the resistance of the material beingpressed-in other words, to increase the leverage exerted 'upon theplunger in its forward movement as the pressure or resistance of thematerial increases.

The invention also contemplates an iin-i proved power mechanism whichpermits the free and sharp retraction of the plunger,- while at the sametime relieving the draft n w baling-chamber properwithin which the baleanimal from the shock thereof.

With these and other objects in View, which will more readily appear asthe nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists inthe novel construction, combination,

and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described,illustrated,and claimed.

While the essential features of the inveny tion are necessarilysusceptible tosome modiication without departing'from the spirit orscope thereof, still the preferred embodiment of the improvements isshown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure Vlis a plan view ofa baling-press equipped with the improvements contemplated by thepresent invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional viewthereof. Fig. 3 is a detail plan View of the rotating power-head,showing the initial relation of parts-during the forward thrust ormovement of the plunger. Fig. 4 is a View similar to Eig. 3, showing asecond position of the parts in whichthe plunger has started upon itsrebounding movement. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing a third position,illustrating the relationA of parts when the plunger is completelyretracted and the operating connection or pit- `man for' the plunger isabout to 'be caught again by the power-wheel for thrusting the plungerforward.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in theseveralfigures of the drawings. In carrying out the invention the improvementsin the power or power mechanism may be associated with any of theordinary types of plunger baling-presses; so for illustrative purposesthere is shown in the drawings a sim- 'ple form' of press embodying abaling-chamber l, adapted to receive therein the reciprocatingbaling-plunger 2 and, provided in the top thereof with a feed-opening 3,at oneside of which feed-opening is arranged .a verticallymovablepressure-roller 4, yieldingly vheld depressed through the medium ofholding-springs 5 and adaptedto yield upwardly as'the plunger 2 passesbeneath the same to permit ofthe hay or other material being freelyfolded or tucked thereunder by the plunger, said roller et thereforeserving, in

connection with the plunger, as a folder for the material which iscompressed within the ris formed. l

While the power or power mechanism forming the essential part of thepresent application may be operatively related to the plunger 2 indifferent ways, still in the drawings there is shown the preferred waywhich is employed. This involves the mounting of the reciprocatoryplunger 2 at one end of the reciprocating plunger@ staff 6,-arranged towork horizontally over the extendedpowerbase 7 and riding upon abearing-roller 8, mounted within the said base and 'serving as a rolleror bearing-support'for the staffv 6 to relieve the same from induefriction in the reciprocatory movements thereof. The said plunger-staff6 is provided contiguous to the end opposite the plunger with alongitudinally-disposed slot 9 and has connected to IOO said endopposite the plunger, as at 10, one end of a retractile spring 11, theother end of which spring is iitted in an adjustable holding-plate 12,which is shown as being provided with a slot 13, receiving aclamping-bolt 14, passing through asupporting-block15,mou nted upon oneend of the power-base 7. The said holding-plate 12 may be freelyadjusted to regulat-e the tension of the retractile spring 11, andthereby provide means for regulating the speed and sharpness of therebound of the plunger, and it will be understood that the spring 11normally exerts its tension in a direction to retract the plunger out ofthe baling-chamber and at one side of the feed-opening 3 thereof. Anantifrictionroller 15 surrounds the pivot-post 2l, hereinafter referredto, and operates within the slot S) of the plunger to obviate anytendency of the plunger to bind under the iuiiuence of the lateralpressure ot' the pitmau.

In the construction shown in the drawings the operative connectionbetween the power or power mechanism and the plunger is effected throughthe medium of a swinging pitman 16, pivotally coupled at one end, bymeans of a rabbeted knuckle connection 17, with the plunger-staff 6 at apoint intermediate the ends of the latter, the pitman 16 carrying at itsopposite or unpivoted end an offset wrist-pin l8,carryi ng anantiiriction-roller 19 and adapted to cooperate with the rotatingpower-head 2O in the manner to be presently explained. By reason of theemployment of the pitlnan connection between the powerhead and theplunger-staff the latter is given a straight forward movement, and theplunger has no tendency to sidewise movement, as when the plunger ispivoted to the end of a plunger-staff, which is the common constructionin hay-presses.

The rotating power-head 20 is preferably in the form of a wheel mountedto rotateupon the stationary pivot-post 2l, secured to and arising fromthe base 7 and having mounted thereon the holding-collars 22 and 23,arranged, respectively, above and below the power head or wheel 2O andremovably and adjustably held upon the pivot-post 2l by means of theset-screws 24, the said collars 22 providing for holding the power heador wheel 2O in the proper working position upon the pivot-post, while atthe same time permitting the ready removal and replacing thereof forrepair or ot her purposes. The said revoluble power head or wheel 2O hasformed therein a peculiarly-shaped camway or slot 25, which by reason ofthe general rectangular form thereof and the different lengths of theside and end walls of the same may be described as being of anapproximately oblong form with the opposite curved outer side walls 26and the substantially straight or convexed outer end walls 27. The saidcamway 25 is not truly oblong in shape by reason of the fact that indiagonally opposite corners thereofthe cam head or wheel is formed withthe olset thrust-notches 28, each of which notches is located at oneend. of one of the end walls 27 and merges directly into said end wall,but meets the adjacent side wall 26 in an inwardly-projecting nose orpoint 29, lying opposite to and at one side of the plane of the adjacenthook-point 30 of the interior S-cam or sigmoidal cam-block 31, which iscentered within the camway or slot and constitutes the inner wall of thesaid camway. By reason of its S shape the interior cam or cam-block 31is necessarily provided with sigmoidal sides lying opposite the curvedside walls 26 of the way, and at its ends the said interior cam orcam-block is formed with the aforesaid alined hook-points or concavities30 reversely disposed opposite the offset thrustnotches 28 to receivethe wrist 1S as it escapes from one of the thrust-notches.

The wrist 18 of the pitman 16 projects into the camway 25 and followsthe peculiar contour or outlines thereof in the rotation of thepower-head, and to provide for reinforcing the interior cam of thepower-head arched braces 32 connect the points of the cam with theadjacent portions of the head or wheel and bridge the way or slot 25 topermit the wrist 18 to freely pass thereunder, said braces beingillustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, but omitted from Figs. 3 to 5,inclusive, so that the latter figures may clearly show the differentpositions of the parts.

Rotary motion is imparted to the power head or wheel 20 through themedium of the sweep 33, arranged transversely across the power head orwheel 2O on top thereof at substantially right angles to the dispositionof the rotary cam 30, and preferably formed in its under side withclearance-grooves 34, arranged above the side portions of the camway orslot 25, in order to permit the wrist 18 to freely pass beneath thesweep.

Assuming the power head or wheel 2O to be rotated in the direction ofthe arrow shown in the drawings, it willbe observed that when one of theoffset thrust-notches 28 is engaged with the roller 19 of the wrist 18the swinging pitman 16 may be said to be looselyinterlocked with thepower head or wheel, so that as the latter continues to rotate the saidpitman 16, together with the plunger-staff, is thrust in a forwarddirection. At the same time the unpivoted end of the pitman is swunginward toward the plane of the plunger-staff, so that the leverage ofthe power head or wheel increases as the pressure or resistance of thematerial being compressed by the plunger increases, thus insuring abaling of the material under great density. This gradual increase of theleverage exerted against the resistance of the material is obviously dueto the fact that at the beginning of the forward movement of the plungerthe pivotal connection of the pitman with the power-head movessubstantially in aplane parallel to the direction of pressure` thearcuate plane through which this con- IOO IOS

nection passes effecting a continually-changing relation of the parts,so that asvthis.

pivotal connection or knuckle nears the end of its movement it is movedin a plane nearly at right angles to the directionof pressure-that is tosay, a large percentage of the movement of the head is absorbed by Vthemovement of the pivotal connection in av When the thrust-notch 28 isinterlocked' with the wrist 18, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings,which is a position about over thek plane of reciprocation of theplunger-staff, the wrist-roller 19 is necessarily caused, under theretractive inuence of the spring ll, to roll oft' of theinwardly-projecting point or nose 29 at one side of the said notch 28andis prevented from swinging to the opposite portion of the camway bybecoming engaged with the adjacent contiguous hook-point or concavitySOof theinteriorcam. (See Fig. 4:.) This breaks the force otvtheretractive movenient of the plunger-sta. On the continuedl movement ofthe sweep the wrist is carried over by the force of the spring, so as tocon-.

tact with the side wall 26 diagonally opposite to the hook-point 30, andthe spring 11, therefore, having a free play, will retract the plungerand carrythe wrist-of the swinging pitman back to the opposite endportion of the way, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, thev curvedwalls of the way serving to-retard to some extent the retractivemovement of thev changed to present an increasing resistance` to therearward `movement of the wrist thereover. In other words, during theretraction of the wrist the, block will be moving toward a position atright angles to such retractile movement, and the shock usuallyincidentto such retraction will-therefore be minimized,

and the strain will be removed from the draftanimals operating thesweep. The curvature f of the outer side-wall 26holds the sweep off thehorse until the wrist-roller reaches the extreme end of the said wall,where the completion of the retractive movement takes place. It willalso be observed that the plunger-remains at rest immediately after itsre-- bound until the wrist-pin traverses one of the end or shorterportions of the camway, thus giving sufficient time to supply materialto the press without stopping the draft-animals.

In Fig. 5 the power-head is shown in the position at the time when theplunger is substantially at rest, though the. sweep is-being.

carried around by the horse. During this period the feeder can supplythe press-box` with a fresh amount of hay.

The constructiondescribed permits of acontinuous operation of balingwith a mini-lv mum expenditure of power, besides insuring a positive andreliable action of the plunger with a minimum strain upon the draftanimal or animals attached to the sweep.

It is thought that the construction,'operation, and many advantages ofthe herein-'described baling-press will be readily apparent Ato thosefamiliar with the art without further description, and I willialso haveit understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and minordetails of construction may. be resorted to without departing from theprinciple or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention. r

The prominent features of my hay-press are the arrangement of thestraight solid plungerstaff which is guided on the pivot-post of thesweep and is operated from the power-head by a pivoted pitman connectionand the p'eculiar Aconstruction of the power-head with its centralinterior cam-block 3l, which has two functions-first, to retard theretractive Vmovement of the plunger-stadY and prevent the shock beingtransmitted with great force to the sweep, and, second, to allow forfeeding the press-box without stopping the draft-ani- IOO mals.` Thesimplicity of the Aconstruction which enables these results to beVaccomplished is a point not to be overlooked. There is nothing complexabout the construction or operation of my press which theaveragefarmer-may not readily understand.

kHaving thus describedthe invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a baling-press, the combination with a press-box, a rotarypower-head in rear of said box, a stationary pivot-post for saidv head,and a plunger within the press-box, of` a plunger-statt having rigidconnection with the plunger and provided with a longitudinal slot forthe reception ot' the pivot-post of the power-head, whereby saidpivot-post constitutes guiding means for the plunger-staff to preventlateral movement of the latter, a

retracting device connectedV to the rear end of the plunger-stad, apitman having pivotal connection at one end with the'plunger-statt at apoint between the press-boxand pivotpost, the opposite endofsaidpi-tmanhaving pivotal connection with the power-head at aneccentric point, and the axis of the power-head being llocateddirectlyin rearfof the pivotal connection -xbetweenthe Vpitman and theplunger-sta, whereby afconstantly-.

increasingleverage Will-be exerted upon the IIO plunger during itsforward movement to effect the application of correspondingly-increasingpressure as the resistance of the bale increases.

2. In a balin g-press, the combination with a press-box, a power-baseextended rearwardly from the box, a horizontal bearing roller mounted inthe base at a point intermediate of its ends, and a block mounted uponsaid base at the rear extremity thereof, of a plunger within the boX, aplunger-staff rigidly fixed thereto and provided adjacent to its rearend with a longitudinal slot, a pivot-post upstanding from thepower-base, au antifriction-roller mounted on said post and disposedwithin the slot of the plunger-stati, a rotary power head mounted onsaid pivot post, whereby said post performs the triple function ofguiding means for the staff, an axle for the antifriction-roller and asupport for the power-head, a pitman eccentrically connected to thepower-head and pivoted at its outer end to the plunger-staff at a pointbetween the pivot-post and press-box, and plunger-retracting mechanismcarried jointly by the rear end of the plunger and the block mounted onthe base.

3. In a baling-press, the combination with the plunger and the plungerconnection having a wrist, of airotary power-head provided withasubstantially oblong camway, the outer side walls of which are providedwith thrustnotches located at diagonally opposite corners of the Way, ablock defining one Wall of the way andterminatingopposite the notches,

, and means for retracting the plunger to cause the wrist when releasedfrom a notch to travel upon the block from one end to the other thereoffor presentation to a succeeding notch, whereby the change in positionof the block, due to the continued rotation of the head during theretraction of the plunger, will present an increasing resistance to suchretraction and thereby minimize the shock incident thereto.

4:. In a baling-press, the combination with a plunger and a pitmanhaving a wrist, of a rotary power-head provided with a substantiallyoblong opening and with diagonally-opposed thrust-notches formed in theside walls of the opening, a sigmoidal block centered within the openingand having its concave portions disposed adjacent to the notches toreceive the wrist as it escapes therefrom, and means for retracting theplunger to cause the Wrist to travel from end to end of the block,Whereby said block opposes an increasing resistance to the retraction ofthe plunger for the purpose of minimizing the shock incident thereto.

5. In a baling-press, the combination with the plunger and the pitmanhaving a Wrist, of a rotary power-head provided with a. substantiallyoblong opening having diagonallyopposed thrustnotches, a block centeredwithin the opening and having its ends disposed opposite thethrust-notches to receive the wrist, means for retracting the plunger tocause the wrist to travel from end to end of the block, and means forlimiting such retraction when the Wrist has reached the rear extremityof the block, whereby the plunger will remain at rest during suchcontinued movement of the head as is necessary to present the nextsucceedingthrust-notch to the Wrist.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MILTON BRANARD JONES.

Vitnesses:

E. L. HENDERSON, J. F. WEsrMoRnLAND.

